All of the elders looked at Roland in confusion, even Lowen looked slightly confused. Lowen had wanted for Roland to reveal his cards but he didn't expect that Roland believed him to have this strange body type. The idea did intrigue him though. Lowen wondered why and how there was someone that seemed to be able to use energy the same way he did in this world.

(Could there be other ki users like me.)

But Lowen also wondered if the man used ki or some different energy entirely. Roland had only said that the energy he felt from that man and Lowens was similar, he didn't say the same. Lowen looked at this village Chief in curiosity and confusion he couldn't be sure if what that man and what he used was one in the same, so Lowen answered truthfully.

"I don't know."

When Roland heard this his calm expression immediately turned to worry and then rage.

(Is this boy lying to me. The way he's using that energy to heal himself, it feels too similar to that man. Damn, it's been so long since I've last felt that guys energy so I can't be sure but the way he uses it, its got to be. This is my last chance, if this too is a failure then my last bit of hope is gone.)

After thinking for a while Roland couldn't help but sigh. His once angry expression returning to his former cool. He looked at Lowen and figured that maybe the boy truly didn't know, he was still just a child. Even if he had that special physique, even if it did increase his intelligence, that didn't mean he would necessarily know the exact terminology for it. Roland still had one more card up his sleeve so whether Lowen knew or not wouldn't really matter. He had asked first because, it, of course, was common courtesy.

"Lowen, do you deny that you are using an energy right now to heal yourself."

Lowen could tell that the Chief could somehow sense his ki so there was no real reason to deny it at this point.

"I don't deny it, so what?"

Instead of answering Lowen the Chief simply continued.

"Hmm, then do you deny the possibility that you have a mage body physique?"

"Anythings possible, where are you going with this?"

Roland once more ignored Lowen's question and instead tapped his cane gently on the ground. Instantly a small fist size ball of flame once more floated out. The 3 elders and Lowen were curious what Roland was doing before Roland suddenly shouted.

"Hold him."

The flame instantly shot out towards Lowen shocking the three elders and Lowen. They were just having a peaceful conversation and now all of the sudden Roland was attacking. Lowen tried to jump out of the way but the flame was already upon him. Just as it was about to strike him its shape suddenly changed from a ball of flame into a chain of flame. It instantly coiled itself around Lowen's hands and feet immobilizing him faster then anyone could blink. Lowen immediately began to struggle, trying to escape before the flames could burn him but even with ki in all of his limbs, he couldn't even budge an inch. Just as panic was about to overwhelm him he noticed something strange. The flames, they weren't hot, Lowen looked down at this chain of fire that held him in place and noticed the flames strangeness. They themselves didn't flicker nor move at all in any way. They were fire but didn't burn him in the slightest. Lowen could sense the flames were using that same energy that Roland had in his body instead of their natural source air. This was simply incredible. That's what Lowen might have thought if he wasn't in such a defenseless situation. Lowen stared daggers at Roland wishing he could kill with a glare. Roland though thought nothing of it and stood up, slowly walking over to Lowen. The three elders just sat there frozen on the spot unaware of what they should or could do. Roland stood in front of Lowen and slowly pulled out a small blade from the inside of his robe and held it above Lowen. Lowen's heart was racing like a rabbit as he shouted.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing."

Roland smiled happily at Lowen and said.

"I'm gonna stab you of course."

Lowen looked at Roland with shock.

(Shit, he's not lying, he's really gonna do it but why. Dammit, what does this gain him, shit shit shit.)

Roland took the dagger above his head and stabbed down at Lowen. Lowen could only glare at Roland with unwillingness. Just as the blade came in contact with Lowen's chest it suddenly stopped, before it barely pricked Lowen's chest. After that, it drew only a few drops of blood. Lowen and the elders stared at Roland in utter confusion.

(Just what in the hell is happening) they thought.

The chains of flame that bound Lowen vanished into thin air. Realizing he was free, Lowen shot to his feet and jumped backward until his ass was touching the door. He took a defensive stance ready to attack at any moment. As he stood there in a defensive position, cold sweat began to pour down his back like a wet rag being squeezed.

Roland however just shook his head in a teasing like manner.

"What, did you really think I was going to kill you."

Lowen didn't know what to think anymore, was this man insane, he acts calm and then flips out trying to stab you. Lowen shouted angrily.

"Then what the hell was that."

"Simple, if I told you I was gonna stab you there's no way you would have simply sat there. So of course, I had to stop your movement."

"That's not what I mean and you know it. Why did you stab me, what the hells wrong with you."

Lowen knew there was no way he could escape. If he wanted out he would have to kill Roland instantly before Roland could use his magic. Thankfully Roland had set his cane down before he came over to Lowens side. Roland's cane was on the other side of the room while he was only separated from Lowen by 3 feet. Lowen's brain ran scenario after scenario before Roland calmly stated.

"Well, I needed a drop of your blood, that way I can easily tell whether you have a Mage body or not. As for what's wrong with me, well id say I'm more normal then you are.

Lowen's thoughts abruptly stopped after hearing Roland's answer.

(So he's not trying to kill me but how does taking my blood show him if I have a Mage body physique or not.)

As though Roland could read his mind, Roland reached back into his robe and pulled out a small unremarkable grey crystal.

"Watch closely, this will show us the truth of the matter."

Lowen's curiosity outweighed his fear, once more he figured if Roland wanted him dead he'd be dead. He stepped closer albeit a bit cautiously so he could observe what the Chief was doing. The three elders as well were quite curious. They had seen that unremarkable grey crystal plenty of times and they were not rare in the slightest as they could be found at the bottom of any riverbed. Nearly every summer, children would get them from the river and skip them across the surface for fun, so what the Chief was doing they hadn't a clue. As the chief held the dagger above the grey crystal he slowly touched the end that had the drop of blood to the surface of the crystal and amazingly the drop of blood sunk in, disappearing as though the grey crystal were a sponge. The elders were simply amazed by this ordinary grey crystal that they've encountered throughout their entire lives. Witnessing it suddenly absorb some blood they wondered why no one else knew about this.

Lowen, however, was simply confused, he wanted to ask Roland but Rolands expression had sunk into despair. Roland had used up such precious magical energy today, if this really didn't work then all he could do is crawl into a ditch and die. Just as he was about to throw the crystal to the ground and smash it in anger, suddenly, like a tiny bee a low buzzing sound came from the crystal and it started to glow white. The 5 seeing this were each left in awe before tears started to stream down Roland's face.

Finally, his hope had returned. As the 5 continued to stare, the crystal grew brighter and brighter. Soon the entire room was so bright it looked as though someone had turned on a miniature sun. Within the room, the eyes of everyone started to ache in pain and just when they could no longer bear it the crystal immediately fractured, cracking in several spots. The bright glow rapidly returning to a dull ugly grey, unremarkable in its entirety. As the buzzing ceased the grey crystal shattered turning into a small pile of dust, once more the room grew silent. The whole process had only lasted a mere few seconds but this had been more than enough to leave a lasting impression on the three elders for the rest of their lives.

Roland released a few more tears of joy before he slowly wiped them away. The elders however only now noticed Roland's tears and were left in bewilderment. They had never seen their leader shed even a single tear in the entire time they knew him, not even after the terrible disaster that befell them a year ago but now he was weeping over a glowing crystal. The three elders were left flabbergasted.

With a million questions on everyone's mind, only Roland looked as though he had all the answers. Just as everyone was getting anxious Roland pointed at the leftover dust and began to explain.

"This dust here, as you all saw it used to be a simple grey crystal, well not so simple.

Roland reached into his robe and grabbed 4 more grey crystals handing one to each person. The elders and Lowen looked over the crystals with curiosity.

"You see these unremarkable grey crystals are actually magic crystals.

The three elders expressions suddenly grew excited, their thoughts ran wild with joy.

(If we gather more of these from the river won't our village become incredibly rich we can sell these to every Mage in the city and make a fortune.)

Roland's next words, however, doused their excitement with cold water.

"Although they are Magic crystals their value is nearly zero."

One of the elders couldn't help but shout.

"Why?"

*Sigh*

"These crystals are just too common, they can be found in nearly every river bed in the world. If one wants one they can simply pick it up from a river for free, so how could it possibly hold any real value, especially when its use isn't anything amazing."

The elders dropped their heads in depression as though they had just lost a huge fortune.

"A grey crystal as you saw glows white. In order to do so, however, requires a certain condition to be met and that is for it to come into contact with something that has an abundance of magical energy in it. Elders drip a bit of blood on those crystals for me."

Roland pricked his finger and the elders didn't hesitate they were loyal to a fault. After they each dropped a bit of blood onto the grey crystals, just like with Lowens their blood sunk into the crystals but unlike Lowens nothing happened. The three elders and Lowen stared at the crystals in astonishment and confusion and the elders then looked at Lowen. Lowen's curiosity grew, he took another drop of his blood and dripped it onto the crystal. The crystal soaked it up and then just like before it buzzed and glowed brightly before shattering into dust.

"You see only someone with a mage body has such a concentration and abundance of magical energy within them. The elders and my self, although we too have magical energy residing within us, it comes nowhere near someone with a mage body physique. Only a Mage at the 4th ring of magic or above can claim to have more magical energy."

The elders and Lowens ears perked up a bit. Roland had just said they have magical energy residing in them but none of them were mages, what did this mean. The elders traded looks before one of them spoke.

"Chief you say we have magic energy in us but none of us are Mages so how can that be."

Lowen too was curious, he felt that same energy in everyone he met in this village but somehow, out of them all, only one was a Mage.

Roland rubbed his chin in thought.

"Well, when it comes to Magic, everyone in the entire world has a tiny bit within themselves. It's just that in order to become a Mage you basically need comprehension, talent, elemental affinity, and luck."

Roland noticed that he was getting a bit sidetracked and returned to his original topic.

*Ahem*

"Anyway only someone with a mage body would give this crystal such a reaction and your blood proves it. Now that I know that you have this physique you can help me and if you agree to help then ill greatly reward you."

The elders again looked at Roland with confusion. Even if Lowen did have a mage body what can he a 6-year-old do for their leader. Their minds were becoming dizzy with thoughts.

Lowen simply pondered.

(What can such a poor village reward me with and in what possible way can I help.)

"Chief Roland how can this child possibly help you, I don't understand, none of us do. Please explain more clearly, what does any of this have to do with why you didn't protect the village a year ago. Please just tell us what's going on."

*Sigh*

As Chief Roland sighed he thought about the tragedy that occurred last year and how he didn't protect those innocent families. Roland shook his head at the elders and spoke almost in a whisper.

"I don't want to die."